Penn State v UNC MBA

Need some advice...I recently have been accepted to both the PSU and the UNC online programs. Currently I'm debating whether to choose UNC which is ~50K more than PSU based on namesake, alumni etc. To give context, I currently am a mid level Finance exec who's had +20yrs on the job experience. I have a position in a large company and the MBA is to help achieve the next level whether it be w/in my current company or whether i choose to move to another. That said, does it REALLY matter which school i choose at this point in my career/life? I understand younger candidates lean toward the UNC name or are able to apply to the more traditional route. My bachelors is from UCLA and the only reason i did online, is due to the convenience as opposed to committing to a Stern or Columbia etc. Is it worth paying more for a higher ranked school and do most companies look at where you went..maybe if i decide to go into a hedge fund?

any thoughts out there would be greatly appreciated!

4 Comments
 

Quidem vel porro minus. Ea dolore iusto iure. Aliquid accusamus placeat doloribus aliquam voluptatem cupiditate. Illum velit quam nostrum saepe aperiam. Placeat qui et praesentium natus.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”